Human Life, Action and Ethics

Essays by G.E.M. Anscombe

This volume presents a collection of essays by the celebrated philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe. This collection includes papers on human nature and practical philosophy, together with the classic 'Modern Moral Philosophy'.

description Reviews Formats

This volume presents a collection of essays by the celebrated philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe. This collection includes papers on human nature and practical philosophy, together with the classic 'Modern Moral Philosophy'.

Source: Philosophical Books

Credit: David Carr

"A collection of splendid essays, all of which repay repeated reading and which should also have pride of place on the bookshelves of all self-respecting contemporary philosophers."

Source: The Tablet

Credit: Michael Dummett

"'One of the most distinguished professional philosophers of her generation."

Source: First Things

Credit: Robert George

"'Superb collection of Anscombe's writings."

Source: Journal of Markets and Morality

Credit: Samuel Gregg

"Demonstrates a refreshing willingness to go to the heart of the philosophical issues underlying some of the most hotly disputed moral questions of our time."

Source: Times Literary Supplement

Credit: Simon Blackburn

"The most brilliant of Wittgenstein's students... an original and formidable philosopher."

Source: Ethical Perspectives

Credit: Tomas Folens

"Her work witnesses of a great intellectual honesty in dealing with moral problems. The language is sometimes quite technical, but her arguments are exceptionally clear."

Credit: Philippa Foot

"The essays reprinted here show the extraordinary originality and great interest of Anscombe's work in action theory and moral philosophy."

Credit: Alasdair MacIntyre

"The editors and the publishers have done philosophy a great service."

Credit: Anthony Kenny

"In the latter half of the twentieth century Anscombe could hold her own with any philosopher in the world."

Credit: Roger Scruton

"Elizabeth Ancsombe thought deeply, wrote beautifully, and was never taken in by pretence."

Credit: Hilary Putnam

"'Truly one of the great philosophers of the twentieth century."

Credit: Mary Warnock, University of Cambridge

"The undoubted giant among women philosophers, a writer of immense breadth, authority and penetration ... a truly original philosopher."

Credit: Cora Diamond, University of Virginia

"Philosophy as she does it is fresh; her arguments take unexpected turns and make unexpected connections, and show always how much there is that had not been seen before."

Credit: Michael Thompson, University of Pittsburgh

"Anscombe's fusion of the Aristotelian and analytical traditions is one of the highest peaks of 20th century philosophy; it has lost none of its power to destroy philosophical complacency and excite new philosophical thought."

Source: Philosophy

Credit: David Conway

"However well-versed anyone might be in the literature of ethics, no one can possibly fail to learn a great deal, both as regards moral philosophy as well as about what the moral life involves, from this hugely rich, profound and absorbing collection of articles and lectures by Anscombe. ... It should be compulsory reading for all students of applied ethics."

Source: Journal of Value Inquiry

Credit: Duncan Richter

"The essays in Human Life, Action and Ethics provide both guidance concerning such concepts as intention and murder, and a challenging, articulate presentation of a rival traditional ethic ... All philosophers working on ethics and intention should read these essays."

Source: Acta Philosophica

Credit: Kevin L. Flannery

"One hopes that this very fine selection of essays will be an encouragement to engage in such work."

Source: The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

Credit: John Finnis

"Anscombe carried out the work that is widely and reasonably judged the twentieth century's outstanding English Catholic philosophical achievement."